Semmering Railway

The Semmering Railway is the first mountain railway which crossed a high-mountains area and counts therefore as the prototype of railway lines mastering very difficult terrain and considerable altitude difference.

The railway was constructed between 1848 and 1854 by some 20,000 workers under the project's designer and director Carl von Ghega. The construction features 14 tunnels (among them the 1,431 m vertex tunnel), 16 viaducts (several two-story) and over 100 curved stone bridges as well as 11 small iron bridges.

Across an overall track length of 41 km the Semmering railway masters an altitude difference of 460 m; on 60% of its length the steepness is 20-25‰ (equivalent to a 1-meter difference in altitude on a 40 m route distance), and 16% exhibit a curvature radius of only 190 m. This was an entirely new technical dimension of railway construction, and new instruments and methods of surveying had to be developed to handle the resulting challenges. Also, new technologies were employed for the Engerth locomotives because the types in general use at this time could not handle the extreme gradients and turning radii.

Year	Decision	Comments
1998	Inscribed	Reasons for inscription
1996	Deferred	Bureau - want comparative study by TICCIH and better info re protection

Reviews

Dr. Peter Jarvis (UK):
The Semmeringbahn (1848-54) is an outstanding and early example of a line keeping a constant gradient, but engaging in tunnels, viaducts and constant curves to keep the gradient even. In this, it follows the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales (1832-36), but is on a much grander scale. Special locomotives had to be developed to work the Semmeringbahn and the Semmering Trials of 1851 gave rise to the types of flexible locomotive which are now widespread through the world, though now they are driven by diesel or electric power rather than steam!

Date posted: April 2010

Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
The Semmering Railway is one of the masterpieces of 19th century architecture and engineering, but you have to be very interested in technology and related fields (I´m not) to appreciate these aspects of the railway (the viaducts are impressive though). Instead, do a nice daytrip from Vienna (or Graz) and enjoy the beautiful landscape in the area. Every train from Vienna to points south (Graz, Villach, all cities in Italy, Croatia, Slovenia) takes the Semmering pass route (at least until the construction of the railway tunnel, which is still in its planning stages), but you have to use the local trains with the destination "Mürzzuschlag" to be able to get off at the small town of Semmering at the top of the pass. There are numerous hiking trails (and skiing areas) there, as well as many hotels and pensions, many from the late 19th century, when the area was a favorite countryside retreat for wealthy Viennese.

samnuan (thailand):
semmering railway itself not so much interesting if you not a trian maniac or train engineer. the the view is great especially in winter

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